How Humans Try to Escape Mortality and Reality

Ever wonder why LIEbertarianism looks good on paper, but is never implemented? While there a host of reasons behind the lack of uptake of that ideology, a few stand out. Let me talk about one of them.

LIEbertarianism assumes that humans actions are rational.

This faulty assumption is implicitly at the core of most LIEbertarian beliefs, theories and worldviews. Now let me tell you what human beings are really like.

Most humans are egoistic, greedy, selfish, phony and lazy scumbags who would gladly sell their mother for a few dollars. They lack compassion, introspection, empathy and above all- reason. It is not as if most people are incapable of being otherwise, yet they choose to be that way.

So why do people choose to be myopic scumbags, when they can be better than that?

People often take the “easier” and more animalistic route. As long as there is nothing to stop people from acting on their desires, they will choose that path over all others- even if those other paths give much better returns.

Consider feudalism and slavery, both of which were widespread throughout human history. Any reasonable person would have quickly figured out that treating people better than peasants or slaves was far less likely to invite desertion, intrigue or retribution in the future. To put it another way, a slightly better living standard combined with more personal freedom results in a far more productive system with much less need for repression and its consequences.

But why did most societies chose to have feudalism and slavery?

Maybe it is about some primitive animalistic urge to control others even if that results in a significantly inferior outcome for that person. But why try to control others, when you cannot even control your own mortality? Is that the behavior of a person thinking rationally? What is the use of power for the sake of power?

In my opinion, such behavior points out to a disturbing yet widespread type of magical thinking. Apparently, many people never come to terms with their own mortality. A lot of human behavior is not logical, let alone rational, if people were actively aware of their own mortality. While animals are not aware of their own mortality and therefore act as if they are immortal, humans beings are very aware of their own mortality- yet most never come to terms with that idea. Even religions that talk about corporeal mortality maintain that the ‘soul’ is immortal, and talk about afterlife. It is as if people, since time immemorial, have been trying very hard to deny what they can clearly observe.

It seem that people think that acting immortal will make them so- cognitive dissonance at its best.

It is hard for most people to accept that the existence of a homeless guy sitting near a luxury store is, in the long run, not that different from a lawyer who makes millions or a world famous billionaire. To misquote Keynes- in the long run, we are all dead. There is no immortality, no afterlife, no legacy of any value, no descendants who will care.. there is nothing after death. Yet clever morons choose to believe otherwise by constructing complex models and rationalizations to escape from that reality.

I would go further and say that all traditional religions, secular religions and ideologies are just pathetic attempts to deny the obvious. It hasn’t worked till now, and it is unlikely to work in the future.. but keep on trying.

Comments?

PS: I am not suggesting that people should just sit around, do nothing and wait for their eventual death. However actually factoring your mortality into your actions and worldview might be a worthwhile idea.

Libertarianism assumes human beings will ALL be responsible and smart, and not abuse their freedoms. This could work for a very small subset of human beings in very small communities, but could never work on a global scale.

Too bad. We could have something close to paradise if it wasn’t for that blasted 95%.

The US was closest to libertarianism we’ve had and it basically worked. Progressives/socialist are some of the worst scum on earth and that system always leads to filth, stench, and poverty. Cuba and North Korea are the logical ends of a progressive mindset. The US is certainly headed in that direction.

This commentary shows you really don’t what the hell you are talking about. No matter how many rule and laws you pass, people are going to do what they are going to do.

Laws/protections against violations of person or private property are necessary but most of anything else is waste.

I presume you give extra money to the federal, state, or local government or donate as much excess time and money you have to charity.

I have a slightly different worldview and try to work as little as possible, therefore not having much (if any) extra money.

Strangely enough this sort of argument gets used against any political system someone doesn’t like: “Ah, Marxism, looks good on paper but ignores human nature….”

Also George Lakeof has written that “progressives” have rational “enlightenment values” but lose to conservatives because conservative rhetoric factors for human emotions. And I’ve heard conservatives make the reverse argument….

This is true about Libertarians. Conservatives are more concerned about the after-life that all they do is to keep screwing everybody in this life. But it is liberals and similar types that obsess the most about preventing death that they will often screw you over that.

About the religion thing, you are partly right: For most people religion is about legitimizing the way they happen to live. But the true well-spring of religion — which is why it still exists — is the terrifying thought that there is nothing that separates you from the beggar with sores and hideously maimed legs dragging himself through the gutters of Calcutta. Nothing but fate, luck, coincidence.

Facing the fact that my mother is close to death she keeps repeating something. That for some reason her father has been in communication with her for the past two weeks and is telling her to give up and come to him. She herself finds it odd that it’s just her father.

Maybe there is something on the other side.

And maybe it’s not the laws that dictate behaviors on this side, but the societal views of what’s acceptable and what isn’t. And from my POV, it’s getting really sad. Another forum recently did a thread on the Huffington article about college women tricking themselves out and many of the men were all for it. Yet the consequences of it becoming the norm has shown up in the form of cheating, spousal abuse, family courts, the divorce industry and so on. When these women do settle down, their behavioral changes that was allowed to foster that allowed them to take up prostitution as just another way to make easy money will make them unreliable to their men and their children. Who in turn are just another form of easy money. And for the most part prostitution is still illegal but the rapid acceptance of loose women in society has all but destroyed the real value women have. And it’s not between their legs guys.

Basically, all relationships between men and women are forms of prostitution. With female sexuality being encouraged and embraced, there is not a problem with it, as it is the last ethical transaction between the sexes, especially in an age where people are hell-bent on trying to game (scam) one another. Last time I checked, we all have been classified, marketed and sell ourselves to the highest bidder. Marriage, dating, divorce and hypergamy (which causes ‘cheating’) is the same shit, except there is too much time wasted and hoops to jump through. That said, men and women alike are both playing themselves like retards.

I have a question that is off-topic but relevant to some of your other posts.

When you pickup a homeless girl to date and bring her to lunch or dinner, do you bring her to your place? Do you let her shower up? Seems to me it would be risky letting her spend the entire night at one’s place. Then do you usually just drop her back off at the street corner?
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It is best to avoid truly homeless girls. Try those who are transient and unstable but not truly homeless.

“It is best to avoid truly homeless girls. Try those who are transient and unstable but not truly homeless.”

Where is the best place to find these girls? I am thinking these are the girls with the cardboard signs asking for $$ off the side of the road. There is a homeless shelter near me but all the women are but ugly with kids. I do see a lot of attractive young women (on occasion) with signs asking for spare change — some are with friends including guys.
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Hmm.. not bad. But befriend them a little first and try to weed out those who give you the creeps.